Italy has notified the European Commission that it will maintain temporary controls at the land border with Slovenia for another six-month period, from 19 December 2025 to 18 June 2026. The measure, filed under Article 25 of the Schengen Borders Code, allows Rome to carry out random passport inspections on traffic moving between Slovenia and Italy’s Friuli-Venezia Giulia region.
The government first re-introduced checks in late 2024 amid heightened security concerns linked to terrorism risks and irregular migration along the Western Balkan route. Since then, police have set up mobile control points on main roads and rail lines while letting most cross-border commuters pass with only brief document scans. The Interior Ministry argues that the stepped-up screening is proportionate and designed to prevent smugglers from exploiting Europe’s passport-free travel area.
![Italy extends internal border checks with Slovenia until June 2026]()
Travelers who want to avoid surprises at the checkpoint can streamline their paperwork through VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform. Its Italy-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) outlines current entry requirements, helps users secure the right visas or residence permits, and offers expedited document processing so cross-border trips remain as smooth as possible despite the renewed controls.
For businesses the extension means at least another half-year of potential delays for freight and executive traffic between Trieste, Gorizia and Ljubljana. Logistic firms report average wait times of 10-25 minutes at busy hours—manageable but material for just-in-time supply chains and coach operators. Corporates moving staff across the frontier are being advised to keep passports, residence cards and proof-of-employment letters on hand.
The decision also signals that Schengen’s ‘temporary’ internal border measures, introduced by several member states since 2015, are becoming semi-permanent. Companies should therefore plan for periodic renewals and factor possible inspections into travel schedules and relocation timelines. Immigration advisers note that non-EU assignees transiting Slovenia by car to reach Italy will need to carry valid visas or permits even if their route never crosses an external EU border.
The government first re-introduced checks in late 2024 amid heightened security concerns linked to terrorism risks and irregular migration along the Western Balkan route. Since then, police have set up mobile control points on main roads and rail lines while letting most cross-border commuters pass with only brief document scans. The Interior Ministry argues that the stepped-up screening is proportionate and designed to prevent smugglers from exploiting Europe’s passport-free travel area.
Travelers who want to avoid surprises at the checkpoint can streamline their paperwork through VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform. Its Italy-specific portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) outlines current entry requirements, helps users secure the right visas or residence permits, and offers expedited document processing so cross-border trips remain as smooth as possible despite the renewed controls.
For businesses the extension means at least another half-year of potential delays for freight and executive traffic between Trieste, Gorizia and Ljubljana. Logistic firms report average wait times of 10-25 minutes at busy hours—manageable but material for just-in-time supply chains and coach operators. Corporates moving staff across the frontier are being advised to keep passports, residence cards and proof-of-employment letters on hand.
The decision also signals that Schengen’s ‘temporary’ internal border measures, introduced by several member states since 2015, are becoming semi-permanent. Companies should therefore plan for periodic renewals and factor possible inspections into travel schedules and relocation timelines. Immigration advisers note that non-EU assignees transiting Slovenia by car to reach Italy will need to carry valid visas or permits even if their route never crosses an external EU border.
